Mayor Tom Wootton was delighted to speak and give evidence at this morning’s Transport Committee in Westminster, sharing his experience of consultation and engagement with local stakeholders around East West Rail.
Mayor Tom said, “It was great to be asked to give evidence on behalf of Bedford Borough residents. It is clear to me the East West Rail Company need to massively improve its consultations and engagement with local stakeholders and especially residents.
“East West Rail could and should have adopted the approach used by National Highways on another scheme in Bedford Borough – the new dual carriageway being built from the Black Cat roundabout to Caxton Gibbet. National Highways have set up a quarterly Stakeholder Board and hold regular meetings with the individual Parish Councils that are impacted by the scheme.”
At the hearing, Tom said of the engagement, “It has been pretty poor, in many stages… We are in favour of East West Rail but the route is not one many people back.
“We are going to get so far down the rabbit hole before we find out how much this has cost… They can easily look at the alternative routes. This is something the Treasury should be looking at.
“Houses have been blighted, people have been worried.”
Tom added after the meeting, “East West Rail must do better. As the National Audit Office recommended in their damning report, they can update their approach to engage and I urge them to do so.”